Riley

The mud was flying up from under the heavy tires of the tactical truck as I slammed my foot onto the gas pedal, and the dashboard radio was screaming with chaotic reports from the southern river border where the outer patrol towers were taking direct fire from Dante's vanguard crews. Fantine was sitting in the passenger seat beside me, her freshly bandaged palm gripping the handle above the door while she checked the magazine of her pistol, and the new bond between us was pulsing so strongly in my mind that I could feel her heightened focus and her lack of fear as if it were my own adrenaline...